arbutus

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an evergreen shrub or small tree of the genus Arbutus, especially the strawberry tree, with bell-shaped flowers and red fruit

   Red fruit hung from the arbutus beside the coastal path.

2. 2
   noun

   a name used for several related low-growing plants, especially the North American trailing arbutus

   Trailing arbutus flowered beneath the pines in early spring.

Borrowed directly from Latin arbutus, 'strawberry tree.' English retained the classical name for the genus and later extended arbutus to several related plants in the heath family.

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